Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 13, 1995 TAG: 9504130041
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The advisory council of the Turning Point, the Salvation Army's shelter for battered women and their children, agreed this week to oversee valleywide participation in the AWARE program.
AWARE - Abused Women's Active Response Emergency - is an alarm system developed by ADT Security Systems for victims of domestic violence.
ADT provides the system - wiring, a wall-mounted panel and a necklace pendant - to participants at no charge. A participant can activate the system by pushing a button on the wall panel or the pendant. That triggers a silent alarm, alerting ADT's monitoring facilities. The facilities, in turn, notify law enforcement in the participant's locality.
The pendant is most effective from inside the home but can be activated from outside - in a back yard, for example.
The Turning Point advisory council will form a board that will select participants - most likely women deemed at greatest risk of abuse based on their histories and those of their abusers. The board will consist of representatives from law enforcement, social services agencies and commonwealth's attorneys' offices.
"I think we're way behind in technologies and ways to help these women," said Darlene Young, director of Turning Point, which last month sheltered 27 women and 24 children and provided outreach services to 87 women.
"It's going to make a woman feel more secure that she has another tool to help her."
The council invited Roanoke-area law enforcement to an AWARE presentation Tuesday, in part because the program requires that they agree to grant priority status to calls involving AWARE participants.
"We have a number of calls that get priority response," said Maj. Don Shields of the Roanoke Police Department. "This type of alarm would meet that requirement."
Roanoke County Police Chief John Cease said that, although his department has all the work it can handle, "I can't imagine not wanting to try this on a pilot basis.
"I really want us to follow through so that we start sending a message in the community that domestic violence isn't acceptable and it's not going to be tolerated."
Salem Police Chief Harry Haskins and Vinton Police Chief Rick Foutz - though they were not aware of Tuesday's presentation and knew little about the program - said it appeared to be a good idea.
The Roanoke Police Department handled an estimated 4,000 domestic calls last year; Roanoke County, an estimated 1,000; Salem, 794; Vinton, 365.
AWARE, launched in 1992, is operating in 31 states. In Virginia, the program is up and running in Virginia Beach and Henrico and Chesterfield counties.
ADT's investment is not small. Each system is worth about $800, said Catherine Barto Meyer, who oversees the AWARE program for ADT.
"Our chairman felt very strongly about giving back to the community that helped build the company," Meyer said. "His mandate is to try to get this in as many cities as we can."
The program is credited with saving the lives of 14 women across the country, Meyer said. While that number may seem small, "the program has proven to be very successful," she said.
AWARE applicants must meet certain criteria. In part, they must have a restraining order, agree to prosecute and be in imminent danger, Meyer said.
"The agreement to prosecute seems to be a sticking point in a lot of cities," she said. "It was felt that maybe women felt it would bring about more anger or more violence if they prosecuted."
Boston haggled over the issue and decided that once an AWARE participant used the system three times, she must prosecute, Meyer said.
The system can be recalled if, among other things, the woman refuses to prosecute after use of the alarm leads to an arrest or she has contact with the abuser other than during court proceedings.
Tom Kincaid, a crime prevention officer for Roanoke County, said he was concerned that women might be lulled into believing they were safer solely because of the alarm system.
"I think that would be wrong," he said. "She needs to understand that ... there are certain things she needs to be doing, like locking up the doors."
Kincaid suggested that the system be viewed as a supplemental tool.
"Let's face it. If they have to set the alarm off, it's probably because they are being beaten," he said. "And it would be better to have prevented the beating."
Meyer stressed that the system was not the "be all and end all."
"If she can get to the phone and dial 911, we encourage she do that before she uses this," Meyer said.
by CNB